The first unexpected message from the medicine came sharp and strange: “Your penis doesn’t belong to you.” I was deep inside the journey, far from the familiar edges of consciousness, when those words surfaced. I didn’t laugh—I was perplexed, caught off guard by their vulgarity and weight.…
The TLDR: Over the past six years, The Ultimate Annual Review guided 45,000+ people around the world through year-end reflection. Like all meaningful transitions, it's time to honor the ending and embrace a new chapter. Our team at Downshift has reimagined the entire experience—shifting from goals…
Gratitude isn’t always visible or loud. It’s often quiet, woven into the fabric of our everyday lives, waiting to be recognized. It feels less like a single feeling and more like a thread—binding moments, contrasts, and truths that remind me of the gift of being here, now.…
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak at the Post-Exit Founders Virtual Conference, an event that brought together over 500 founders navigating their post-exit journeys. Hosted by Barack Kaufman from Vine Ventures, Max Pog from Venture Studio Family, and Connor Tomkies at Entrepreneurial Cooperative, this gathering provided an incredible space…
Several weeks ago, I signed up for Navigating Transitions, a new coaching certification course from Modern Elder Academy (MEA). Given my experience guiding high performers through transition, I thought it might be too rudimentary and not stretch me. But instead, I've found myself fully immersed, uncovering insights and…
Every year, I speak with prospective clients and friends who find themselves asking, “Is this it?” They’re high-performing leaders, entrepreneurs, and influencers who’ve spent years in motion, hitting milestones and achieving outward success. Yet, beneath the surface, they feel something essential is missing—a quiet, unshakable sense that…
"If you think you're enlightened, spend a week with your family" —Ram Dass Returning to the place you grew up is always layered with complexity. As the journey nears, anticipation and trepidation may build—excitement mixed with nostalgia, or perhaps a sense of dread shadowed by…
Last week, we hosted our Fall Downshift retreat, and I've been reflecting on the insights that emerged from that experience. I’m moved by the depth of what unfolded—not just for our individual Downshifters, but for the group as a whole. The retreat was full of breakthroughs…
